Oprtalj Retreat
We do not seek the primary reference for the new construction in traditional residential architecture, as the project is located “fuori le mura” [outside the walls]; instead, we find it in the local traditional agricultural shaping of the terrain, slopes, retaining walls, gardens, and orchards.
Tourist complex in Oprtalj embedded into gardens
The tradition of agriculture, former terraces for retaining soil, and supporting walls (dry stone walls) form the foundation for the design of this small, sustainable, landscape-sensitive, and socially inclusive tourist complex.
The foothold of the concept stems from the core design value and specific character of the wider context in which the location is situated – cultivated geomorphology – terraced slopes. Recognised as the main feature of both the wider and immediate context, along with the agricultural aspect of the surroundings, the terraced slopes form the base for the approach to shaping the building volumes.
By being embedded into the terrain, the three accommodation units take over the rehabilitation of one terrace each, thereby preserving the value of the surrounding views of Oprtalj and blending into the natural and cultural environment.
In both the accommodation units and the multi-purpose building, the main space is visible, elevated, and designed under a pitched gable roof (stone or clay tiles), while the supporting parts of the building are hidden under green roofs that connect with the terrain. Local stone and greenery dominate the appearance of all external parts of the buildings, and the experience of retaining walls is pronounced.
In order for the accommodation facilities to “immerse” themselves into the terrain as much as possible, a semi-buried basement floor is used in the design. The facilities are placed “behind” stone retaining walls, covered with a green roof with a thicker layer of substrate in the zones of the sleeping wing. Only in the living wing zones is a pitched stone roof formed at the terrain level of the upper terrace, connecting with its front roof slope to the retaining wall. At the same time, the retaining wall is interrupted precisely in the segment of the pitched roof, forming a kind of porch, while the enclosed spaces are recessed relative to the line of the retaining wall. This also places the glass walls into the background and into the shade, so that they do not appear inappropriate on the surface of the retaining wall, which also constitutes the main facade of the building.
The layout of the volumes on the plot itself is ultimately determined by the aspiration to integrate into the context. It is completely defined by the existing terraces, orientation, and the existing approach, as well as the programme with three accommodation units and a communal social building, providing the required comfort and privacy of the accommodation section, while ensuring the openness and accessibility to the public of the social section, with everything embedded within the natural and cultural environment.
The common facilities within the main building include a functional layout of a breakfast kitchen with a dining area, entrance hall spaces, a reception desk, a bar/servery, visitor toilets, a staff room, service and utility rooms, and a multi-purpose hall. This facility offers social programmes of creative workshops, yoga, recreation, exhibitions, smaller celebrations, business gatherings, and similar, with the intention of bringing together the local population, guests, visitors, and passersby.
